Wire connector

ABSTRACT

A terminal assembly comprising a terminal board of flat sheet insulating material with a plurality of metallic electric wire connectors mounted thereon having on one pair of opposite sides a pair of spaced, opposed, generally flat clamping tabs and on the other pair of opposite sides a pair of side extensions interconnected to provide an end extension including an electrical connecting member. The tabs each have at least one wire receiving aperture closely adjacent the base which has a portion extending between the apertures in opposite tabs. The apertures in opposite tabs are aligned with one another for the insertion of a wire thereinto to be gripped and clamped between the tabs and the base portion upon bending of the tabs toward one another into substantial parallelism with the base portion.

United States Patent n91 Schoelles [111 3,772,638 [451 Nov. 13, 1973WIRE CONNECTOR [73] Assignee: Ark-Les Switch Corporation,

V Watertown, Mass.

22 Filed: July 13, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 271,285

[52] U.S. Cl. 339/198 R, 339/220 R, 339/250,

339/276 R [51] Int. Cl H011 9/00 [58] Field of Search 339/198 R, 198 C,

339/198 E, 198 G, 198 GA, 198 11,198 J, 198 K, 198 S, 198 P, 95 R, 95 D,96, 97 R, 97 C, 97 P, 220 R, 220 A, 220 C, 220 L, 220 T, 248, 250, 223R, 276 R, 276 A, 276 C, 276 D, 276 E, 276 F, 276 R, 276 S, 276 T, 277 R,277 C; 24/115 A, 123 W, 129 W, 265

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,583,530 H1952 Hasselbohm339/95 R 3,702,456 11/1972 Patton 339/198 H 12/1971 Deutsch 339/276 R3/1929 Roberts 339/276 R X Primary ExaminerMarvin A. Champion AssistantExaminer--Robert A. Hafer Attorney-Martin Kirkpatrick [57] ABSTRACT Aterminal assembly comprising a terminal board of flat sheet insulatingmaterial with a plurality of metallic electric wire connectors mountedthereon having on one pair of opposite sides a pair of spaced, opposed,generally flat clamping tabs and on the other pair of opposite sides apair of side extensions interconnected to provide an end extensionincluding an electrical connecting member. The tabs each have at leastone wire receiving aperture closely adjacent the base which has aportion extending between the apertures in opposite tabs. The aperturesin opposite tabs are aligned with one another for the insertion of awire thereinto to be gripped and clamped between the tabs and the baseportion upon bending of the tabs toward one another into substantialparallelism with the base pOrtlOn.

8 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures WIRE CONNECTOR This invention relates toelectric wire connectors and terminal assemblies thereof.

The provision of satisfactory electric wire connectors and assembliesthereof has been a problem especially in connection with the mounting ofbare resistance wire elements. This is due to the intermittent heatingand cooling of such elements, with its resulting expansion andcontraction, tending to loosen the elements with respect to theirconnectors, producing an unreliable electrical connection therebetween.

Accordingly, it is a major object of the present invention to remedythis deficiency in a practical and economical manner.

This is accomplished in the present invention by providing an electricwire connector, formed of readily bendable sheet metal, comprising aflat base having bent, preferably perpendicularly, out of the planethereof on one pair of opposite sides a pair of spaced,

opposed, generally flat clamping tabs each having at 7 least one andpreferably at least two wire receiving apertures closely adjacent to thebase, with the base having a portion extending between the apertures inopposite tabs. The apertures in opposite tabs are positioned withrespect to one another for the insertion of a wire thereinto to begripped and clamped between the tabs and the base portion upon bendingof the tabs toward one another into substantial parallelism with thebase portion. Preferably, the base has side extensions at the sidesthereof between the tabs bent perpendicularly out of the plane of thebase on the side thereof opposite the tabs, said side extensionsextending beyond at least one and preferably both of the tabs in adirection perpendicular thereto and being interconnected in the plane ofthe base to provide an end extension which is provided with terminalboard mounting means for mounting the connector on a terminal board offlat sheet insulating material having a plurality of slots therein,extending in a plane parallel to the tabs. Preferably, too, the endextension includes an electrical connecting member extending beyond theterminal board mounting means.

For the purpose of more fully explaining further objects and features ofthe invention, reference is now made to the following detaileddescription of a preferred embodiment thereof, together with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view, partly in section, showing a terminalassembly including a plurality of the wire connectors of the invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are, respectively, side sectional views of a wireconnector of FIG. 1 in open and clamped positions;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are, respectively, cross sectional views of the wireconnectors of FIGS. 2 and 3; and

FIG. 6 is a projected view of a wire connector of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings, in FIG. 1 is illustrated a terminal assemblycomprising a terminal board 12 of flat sheet insulating material havinga plurality of slots 14 therein and a plurality of electric wireconnectors 17, 18 and 19 mounted on said board and extending throughsaid slots. Board 12 is also provided with two holes 16 for attaching itto a suitable mounting structure.

According to the invention, connectors 17, 18 and 19 are formed fromflat stock of readily bendable sheet metal and are shown in projected,unbent configuration 20 in FIG. 6. Each such connector has a flat base22 having bent perpendicularly out of the plane thereof on one sidethereof a pair of spaced, opposed, generally flat clamping tabs 24, 28and on the opposite side thereof a pair of side extensions 32, 34 at thesides thereof between said clamping tabs.

The side extensions 32, 34 extend beyond clamping tab 24 in a directionperpendicular thereto and are interconnected in the plane of base 22 toprovide an end extension including an electrical connecting member 36extending through slots 14. The end extension has mounting tabs 40 formounting connectors 17, 18 and 19 on terminal board 12 with theirconnecting members on one side of said terminal board and the remainderof said connector on the opposite side of said terminal board.

Clamping tabs 24, 28 each have a pair of wire receiving aperturesclosely adjacent to the plane of base 22 generally tangential thereto,apertures 23 and 25 in tab 24 and apertures 27 and 29 in tab 28, withsaid base having a portion 21 extending between apertures in oppositetabs. Furthermore, the apertures in opposite tabs, for example aperture27 in tab 28 and aperture 23 in tab 24, are aligned with one another forthe insertion of a wire 30 (FIGS. 2 and 4) thereinto to be gripped andclamped between said tabs and base portion 21 upon bending of said tabstoward one another into substantial parallelism with said base portion(FIGS. 3 and 5), as shown with respect to connectors 18 and 19 in FIG.I. It is a particularly important characteristic of the invention thatwhen the clamping tabs are bent into parallelism with the base portion,the apertures therein are deformed from a generally circular to an ovalconfiguration, with the edges of the apertures gripping the wire verytightly.

A typical resistance wire assembly is shown in FIG. 1 wherein aresistance wire coil element 44 extends between independent connectors18 and 19 mounted on terminal board 12 with its opposite end wires 30gripped and clamped between the tabs and the base portion with the tabsbent toward one another into substantial parallelism with the baseportion.

What is claimed is: 1. An electric wire connector formed of readilybendable sheet metal, comprising a flat base having bent out of theplane thereof on one side a pair of spaced, opposed, generally flatclamping tabs said tabs each having at least one wire receiving apertureclosely adjacent to said base with said base having a portion extendingbetween said apertures in opposite tabs and having ,side extensions atthe sides thereof between said tabs, said side extensions being bent outof the plane of said base on the side thereof opposite said tabs saidapertures in opposite tabs being positioned with respect to one anotherfor the insertion of a wire thereinto to be gripped and clamped betweensaid tabs and said base portion upon bending of said tabs toward oneanother into substantial parallelism with said base portion. 2. Anelectric wire connector formed of readily bendable sheet metal,comprising a flat base having bent out of the plane thereof on one sidea pair of spaced, opposed, generally flat clamping tabs said tabs eachhaving at least one wire receiving aperture closely adjacent to saidbase with said base having a portion extending between said apertures inopposite tabs and having side extensions at the sides thereof betweensaid tabs said side extensions extending beyond at least one of saidtabs in a direction perpendicular thereto and are interconnected in theplane of said base to provide an end extension said apertures inopposite tabs being positioned with respect to one another for theinsertion of a wire thereinto to be gripped and clamped between saidtabs and said base portion upon bending of said tabs toward one anotherinto substantial parallelism with said base portion.

3. A connector as claimed in claim 2 wherein said end extension isprovided with terminal board mounting means for mounting said connectoron a terminal board extending in a plane parallel to said tabs.

4. A connector as claimed in claim 3 wherein said end extension includesan electrical connecting member extending beyond said terminal boardmounting means.

5. An electric wire connector formed of readily bendable sheet metalcomprising a flat base having bent perpendicularly out of the planethereof on one side thereof a pair of spaced, opposed, generally flatclamping tabs and on the opposite side thereof a pair of side extensionsat the sides thereof between said clamping tabs said side extensionsextending beyond one of said clamping tabs in a direction perpendicularthereto and being interconnected in the plane of said base to provide anend extension said tabs each having at least one wire receiving apertureclosely adjacent to said base with said base having a portion extendingbetween said apertures in opposite tabs said apertures in opposite tabsbeing positioned with respect to one another for the insertion of a wirethere-into to be gripped and clamped between said tabs and said baseportion upon bending of said tabs toward one another into substantialparallelism with said base portion.

6. A connector as claimed in claim 5 wherein said end extension isprovided with terminal board mounting means for mounting said connectoron a terminal board extending in a plane parallel to said tabs andincludes an electrical connecting member extending beyond said terminalboard mounting means.

7. A terminal assembly comprising a terminal board of flat sheetinsulating material having a plurality of slots therein and a pluralityof electric wire connectors mounted on said board and extending throughsaid slots said connectors being formed of readily bendable sheet metaland comprising a flat base having bent perpendicularly out of the planethereof on one side thereof a pair of spaced, opposed, generally flatclamping tabs and on the opposite side thereof a pair of side extensionsat the sides thereof between said clamping tabs said side extensionsextending beyond one of said clamping tabs in a direction perpendicularthereto and being interconnected in the plane of said base to provide anend extension said end extension including an electrical connectingmember extending through said slots and having mounting means formounting said connectors on said terminal board with their electricalconnecting members on one side of said terminal board and the remainderof said connector on the opposite side of said terminal board said tabseach having at least one wire receiving aperture closely adjacent saidbase with said base having a portion extending between said apertures inopposite tabs said apertures in opposite tabs being positioned withrespect to one another for the insertion of a wire thereinto to begripped and clamped between said tabs and said base portion upon bendingof said tabs toward one another into substantial parallelism with saidbase portion.

8. A terminal assembly as claimed in claim 7, further including aresistance wire element extending between independent connectors mountedon said terminal board said resistance wire having its opposite endsgripped and clamped between said tabs and said base portion with saidtabs bent toward one another into substantial parallelism with said baseportion.

1. An electric wire connector formed of readily bendable sheet metal,comprising a flat base having bent out of the plane thereof on one sidea pair of spaced, opposed, generally flat clamping tabs said tabs eachhaving at least one wire receiving aperture closely adjacent to saidbase with said base having a portion extending between said apertures inopposite tabs and having side extensions at the sides thereof betweensaid tabs, said side extensions being bent out of the plane of said baseon the side thereof opposite said tabs said apertures in opposite tabsbeing positioned with respect to one another for the insertion of a wirethereinto to be gripped and clamped between said tabs and said baseportion upon bending of said tabs toward one another into substantialparallelism with said base portion.
 2. An electric wire connector formedof readily bendable sheet metal, comprising a flat base having bent outof the planE thereof on one side a pair of spaced, opposed, generallyflat clamping tabs said tabs each having at least one wire receivingaperture closely adjacent to said base with said base having a portionextending between said apertures in opposite tabs and having sideextensions at the sides thereof between said tabs said side extensionsextending beyond at least one of said tabs in a direction perpendicularthereto and are interconnected in the plane of said base to provide anend extension said apertures in opposite tabs being positioned withrespect to one another for the insertion of a wire thereinto to begripped and clamped between said tabs and said base portion upon bendingof said tabs toward one another into substantial parallelism with saidbase portion.
 3. A connector as claimed in claim 2 wherein said endextension is provided with terminal board mounting means for mountingsaid connector on a terminal board extending in a plane parallel to saidtabs.
 4. A connector as claimed in claim 3 wherein said end extensionincludes an electrical connecting member extending beyond said terminalboard mounting means.
 5. An electric wire connector formed of readilybendable sheet metal comprising a flat base having bent perpendicularlyout of the plane thereof on one side thereof a pair of spaced, opposed,generally flat clamping tabs and on the opposite side thereof a pair ofside extensions at the sides thereof between said clamping tabs saidside extensions extending beyond one of said clamping tabs in adirection perpendicular thereto and being interconnected in the plane ofsaid base to provide an end extension said tabs each having at least onewire receiving aperture closely adjacent to said base with said basehaving a portion extending between said apertures in opposite tabs saidapertures in opposite tabs being positioned with respect to one anotherfor the insertion of a wire there-into to be gripped and clamped betweensaid tabs and said base portion upon bending of said tabs toward oneanother into substantial parallelism with said base portion.
 6. Aconnector as claimed in claim 5 wherein said end extension is providedwith terminal board mounting means for mounting said connector on aterminal board extending in a plane parallel to said tabs and includesan electrical connecting member extending beyond said terminal boardmounting means.
 7. A terminal assembly comprising a terminal board offlat sheet insulating material having a plurality of slots therein and aplurality of electric wire connectors mounted on said board andextending through said slots said connectors being formed of readilybendable sheet metal and comprising a flat base having bentperpendicularly out of the plane thereof on one side thereof a pair ofspaced, opposed, generally flat clamping tabs and on the opposite sidethereof a pair of side extensions at the sides thereof between saidclamping tabs said side extensions extending beyond one of said clampingtabs in a direction perpendicular thereto and being interconnected inthe plane of said base to provide an end extension said end extensionincluding an electrical connecting member extending through said slotsand having mounting means for mounting said connectors on said terminalboard with their electrical connecting members on one side of saidterminal board and the remainder of said connector on the opposite sideof said terminal board said tabs each having at least one wire receivingaperture closely adjacent said base with said base having a portionextending between said apertures in opposite tabs said apertures inopposite tabs being positioned with respect to one another for theinsertion of a wire thereinto to be gripped and clamped between saidtabs and said base portion upon bending of said tabs toward one anotherinto substantial parallelism with said base portion.
 8. A terminalassembly as claimed in claim 7, further including a resistance wireelement extending between independent connectors mounted on saidterminal board said resistance wire having its opposite ends gripped andclamped between said tabs and said base portion with said tabs benttoward one another into substantial parallelism with said base portion.